How to Cultivate Better Money Habits and Save Smartly
It is a good idea to evaluate your finances periodically especially if you are planning a major purchase or planning a major revamp of your personal budget. Viewing your finances frequently will help you to identify which areas can stand to be manipulated to support these goals. Just like all habits, money habits can be difficult to break however not impossible. After you identify your goals get to work researching all the options you have for achieving them and decide what is most realistic to your lifestyle and circumstance.
Take Control of Debt
It is no secret that debt can really halt your financial progress if you let it but it certainly does not have to. Figuring out how to successfully tackle your personal debt no matter how large or small the amount is not a life hack it is a life necessity. The only real no-no as it pertains to debt, it to ignore it. Just because you do not address it does not mean it is not there so instead get in front of it through a management plan.
Student loans are commonly one of the largest debts that any individual will have. Instead of settling for the terms you agreed on at 18 and just paying the monthly minimum on autopilot do your finances a favor and research your options. You can refinance student loans into a new loan with a private lender to potentially lower the total owed. This is a low-risk option since tools like refi calculators can help you know what to expect to pay before you make any permanent changes.
Set Realistic Goals
The worst type of financial plan to follow is the one that makes no sense for your personal finances or lifestyle. For example, you might find an article that suggests you sell your car to save on monthly expenses, but if your lifestyle demands personal transportation you will just end up spending those funds in new areas that allow you to get where you need to go.
Consider all tips and tricks presented to you but be methodical in the ones you choose to adopt. If time is on your side, then making small but steady strides towards improving your money habits will result in longer lasting success. Identify which strategies lend themselves to an assigned timeline and which you intend to add into your overall plan for yourself.
Automate Your Finances
Setting up your bills to be on automatic payments can help alleviate a lot of pressure associated with these payments. Having a firm grip on which bills will be withdrawn and in what amount each month is essential with this tip so that you do not overdraft your accounts, but once you have a month or two under your belt of simply checking to be sure everything is in order, the ease of automation will be freeing.
Automating savings is another savvy savings tip. Setting up your paycheck to have a percentage automatically deposited into an account specific for savings only means that what is left is going to be the amount that you have for your budget, and the savings is already taken care of. This can help you to live within your means and regain control over any impulsive habits you may have formed.
Don’t Cut-Off, Rather Change
If you are saving up for something big in your life and you are looking into where you can cut costs in your lifestyle, don’t cut everything. There are many aspects where you can just change, save money and still continue (although in another way) with your current lifestyle. In your home, you can change a few aspects. Start a vegetable garden or even a living wall of herbs in your kitchen and save on your grocery bill. Or better yet, install solar panels and cut your electric bill altogether. As for your health and wellness, divert from paying classes and instead do them at home via a Youtube video. Or, if you really want to stay in touch with nature, get a mobile exercise app and go wild. Instead of selling your car, why not start a lift club? Preferably with people who either work with you or are in the same vicinity to avoid the chance of you being late due to traffic.
